Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Whitaker.
Hi Amanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my business in 2014 under the name Moon Dazey after I had been making jewelry for a while. At that time, I focused on making beaded bracelets and wire wrapped rings and pendants. Over that year, I realized what I was making didn’t really reflect my style or who I was. I have always loved silver jewelry and big statement gypsy style rings and entertained the thought of making jewelry like that. I just didn’t know where to begin. I guess it was fate because soon after, I stumbled upon an article online that was basically an introduction to silversmithing. I thought, “yes! This is what I really want to do.” Over time I gathered the tools and resources needed to teach myself how to silversmith. By the end of 2015, I had given my business a facelift to better reflect what I represented and the jewelry I was making. I changed my logo and officially registered my business as Daze Jewelry, a name that still gave reference to my beginnings. I continued to teach myself and create pieces that I truly loved and would wear myself. Even though I wanted to create the big gypsy style jewelry that I loved, my own style came through and could be seen in my pieces. I created smaller pieces that were funky yet sophisticated, jewelry that would be worn to spice up an outfit or become a staple piece that someone would never want to take off. I think my description for my jewelry being “for the modern bohemian” is the perfect fit. As I continue to teach myself and grow, my jewelry evolves and reflects my own style more and more. Currently, I sell through Etsy, but a website is in the works. I also do pop-ups in the coastal bend area occasionally and am looking forward to popping up outside of Corpus Christi as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. As much as I would love to work on my small business full time, I’ve never really had a chance. I’ve always held a full-time job while going to school, so Daze usually falls on the backburner. Whenever my schedule got too crazy, I would temporarily close my Etsy, stop doing pop ups, and stop being active on social media. With that being said, all those things led to my business being stagnant. I wasn’t reaching new customers locally or online and I wasn’t making sales. For being around as long I have and not having the followers and sales to show used to stress me out. But recently I have found it liberating to work at my own pace. I’m not killing myself to make content to post every day or making sure to make enough inventory for a pop up every weekend. I’m happy to work on Daze in my own time because when I push myself too much, my passion for jewelry and silversmithing turns to stress and it feels like work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a silversmith. I saw, hammer, stamp, and solder sterling silver and set natural gemstones to create jewelry. I am proud of how far I’ve come and what I’ve been able to create being self-taught. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to taking a class someday! I would love to if the opportunity comes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I feel lucky for the various opportunities I had through my jewelry, but I believe it is my jewelry that has opened to door to these possibilities. I’ve had my pieces carried in a few local shops, I’ve been on the news, and I’ve been able to travel out of town for pop ups a few times. I feel lucky just to be able to make jewelry and have people out there that like what I create and believe in my business.
Contact Info:
- Email: dazejewelry@yahoo.com
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dazejewelry
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dazejewelry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dazejewelry
